On Theater: Laguna Playhouse shows this season are all new productions
Theatergoers visiting the Laguna Playhouse during the upcoming season — the theater’s 97th — are likely to notice the complete absence of a familiar show. Nothing by Shakespeare or Neil Simon. They’re all new for 2016-17.
Actually, the season already is underway, having started last month with “All Shook Up,” a romantic comedy with Elvis Presley’s music providing the entire score. It did have a touch of Shakespeare, with a plot twist borrowed from “Twelfth Night.”
An intriguing premise is offered by the next attraction, “Billy & Ray,” those characters being Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler, the director and author, respectively, of the film noir classic “Double Indemnity.” It was written by Mike Bencivenga.
In a plot reminiscent of “Moonlight and Magnolias,” involving the creators of “Gone With the Wind” and their legendary squabbles, “Billy & Ray,” which opens Oct. 5, focuses on the tension between Wilder and Chandler, which even the movie’s stars, Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck, couldn’t match on the screen.
A holiday treat for young audiences will be “Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight,” an interactive musical fairy tale opening Dec. 7. Comedy, magic and pop music are included in the British holiday tradition.
“Chapatti,” which opens Jan. 11, tells of a crazy cat lady and a lonely dog owner who discover each other late in their lives. Christian O’Reilly created this modern love story.
Hershey Felder has been featured many times at the playhouse in his one-man shows impersonating such musical greats as George Gershwin, Beethoven, Chopin and Leonard Bernstein. Come March 1, he’ll be Tchaikovsky, working on “Swan Lake,” “The Nutcracker” and the “1812 Overture.” Music lovers are circling their calendars.
Remember “King of the Road”? Well, now it’s the title of a biographical play centering on country music icon and Tony-winning Broadway composer Roger Miller. The show, written by Cort Casady and Mary Miller and featuring Roger Miller’s music, goes up April 19.
“The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey” wins the award for the season’s longest title. James Lecesne wrote and will star in this one-man show, opening May 31, about a boy’s disappearance and memories of his brilliant spirit.
The playhouse, at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach, is taking reservations for both season and single tickets. Further information is available by calling the theater at (949) 497-2787 or going online at lagunaplayhouse.com.
TOM TITUS reviews local theater.
